To Build a Home

"To Build a Home" is a piano ballad{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/may/04/electronicmusic.shopping |title=CD: Cinematic Orchestra, Ma Fleur |last=Lynskey |first=Dorian |newspaper=The Guardian |publication-date=4 May 2007 |access-date=13 November 2016}} that serves as the opening track to its companion album, Ma Fleur,{{cite web |url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/12273/The-Cinematic-Orchestra-Ma-Fleur/ |title=The Cinematic Orchestra – Ma Fleur (album review) |last=Fisher |first=Tyler |website=Sputnikmusic |publication-date=4 June 2007 |access-date=13 November 2016}} though it serves as the closing track on the Domino-released versions of the album.{{Cite web |url=http://www.dominorecordco.us/usa/albums/06-08-09/ma-fleur/ |title=Ma Fleur : The Cinematic Orchestra |publisher=Domino USA |access-date=13 November 2016}} It features vocals from Canadian singer-songwriter Patrick Watson, who also has writing credits on the song alongside Phil France and Jason Swinscoe of the Cinematic Orchestra. Watson also performed piano for the song.{{cite AV media notes|title=Ma Fleur|others=The Cinematic Orchestra|year=2007|type=album liner notes|publisher=Ninja Tune / Domino}}

The instrumental begins with about three to four piano chords looped,{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/apr/22/jazz.shopping |title=CD: Cinematic Orchestra, Ma Fleur |last=Nicholson |first=Stuart |newspaper=The Observer |publication-date=21 April 2007 |access-date=13 November 2016}} building up to a more loud and grand point, introducing strings. During this portion of the instrumental, Watson sings over both the piano and strings, eventually climaxing with falsetto vocals. Lyrically, the song deals with Watson wanting to create a house for him and his lover. What happens with the house is unknown, resulting it to be merely metaphorical in place of a resting place for the two.{{cite magazine |url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/10057/reviews/1939741- |title=Album Review: The Cinematic Orchestra – Ma Fleur |last=Shapiro |first=Shain |magazine=Drowned in Sound |publication-date=4 May 2007 |access-date=13 November 2016 |archive-date=13 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113180931/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/10057/reviews/1939741- |url-status=dead }}

The song was first released on 29 October 2007 as a 7" vinyl single by Ninja Tune in the United Kingdom. It was backed with a cover version of the song performed by Grey Reverend. A 7" single was also released in the U.S. by the Domino Recording Company's U.S. division, which was backed with "Child Song". In 2015, the song peaked at number 96 on the French Singles Chart.

"To Build a Home" had a positive reception from music critics. Critics often saw Watson's vocal performance as a highlight on the song. For The Observer, Stuart Nicholson wrote that "Swinscoe transforms three- and four-chord vamps into something special." For Drowned in Sound, Shain Shapiro regarded the vocals as "bellowing [and] haunting", while Tyler Fisher of Sputnikmusic said that Watson "nearly steals the show". Maggie Fremont of Vulture called it "one of the most emotional songs ever performed."{{Cite web |url=http://www.vulture.com/2018/03/this-is-us-season-2-tearworthy-moments-ranked.html |title=The Weepiest Moments in This Is Us Season Two, Ranked |last=Fremont |first=Maggie |date=13 March 2018 |website=Vulture |access-date=27 March 2018}}

"To Build a Home" has been used in several different television shows and films, including This Is Us,Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, One Tree Hill, Grey's Anatomy,{{Cite web |url=http://delano.lu/d/detail/10-things-to-do/glow-nu-jazz/128551 |title=Glow in nu-jazz |publisher=Delano |publication-date=25 October 2016 |access-date=13 November 2016}} Criminal Minds, Friday Night Lights, Orange Is the New Black, 9-1-1,{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8099523/the-cinematic-orchestra-top-tv-songs-chart-january |title=The Cinematic Orchestra Rules Top TV Songs Chart for January 2018 |last=Zellner |first=Xander |date=13 February 2018 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=27 March 2018}} Schitts Creek, Skam France, The Gifted, and Scenes from a Marriage.{{cn|date=June 2025}}

In March 2008 the song was used in an acclaimed Australian TV advert for the soft drink brand Schweppes.{{Cite web |date=2008-06-14 |title=GEORGE PATTERSON Y&R TAKES OUT MADC BEST OF SHOW FOR SCHWEPPES 'BURST' |url=https://campaignbrief.com/patts-bursts-madc-party/ |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=Campaign Brief |language=en-AU}} At the 2018 Winter Olympics, figure skaters Julian Yee and Dmitri Aliev used the song in their respective performances.{{Cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/8221365/beth-hart-ida-corr-cinematic-orchestra-more-skate-to-sales-gains-in-final-days |title=Beth Hart, Ida Corr, Cinematic Orchestra & More Skate to Sales Gains in Final Days of Winter Olympics |last=Rutherford |first=Kevin |date=27 February 2018 |website=Billboard.biz |access-date=27 March 2018}} It was reported in February 2022 that the song had been streamed over 374 million times.{{cite news |url=http://www.shropshirestar.com/entertainment/2016/11/06/cinematic-orchestras-jason-swinscoe-talks-ahead-of-birmingham-o2-institute-show/ |title=Cinematic Orchestra's Jason Swinscoe talks ahead of Birmingham O2 Institute show |last=Richardson |first=Andy |newspaper=Shropshire Star |access-date=13 November 2016}}

• Ninja Tune (ZEN7 200; UK 7" vinyl single){{Cite web |url=https://ninjatune.net/release/the-cinematic-orchestra/to-build-a-home-versions |title=To Build a Home (Versions) by the Cinematic Orchestra |publisher=Ninja Tune |access-date=13 November 2016}}

{{Track listing

|headline = Side A

|title1 = To Build a Home

}}

{{Track listing

|headline = Side B

|title1 = To Build a Home

|note1 = Grey Reverend Version

}}

• Domino (DNO 148; U.S. 7" vinyl single){{Cite web |url=http://www.dominorecordco.us/usa/singles/06-08-09/to-build-a-home/ |title=To Build a Home : The Cinematic Orchestra |publisher=Domino USA |access-date=13 November 2016}}

{{Track listing

|headline = Side A

|title1 = To Build a Home

|note1 = edit

}}

{{Track listing

|headline = Side B

|title1 = Child Song

}}

Personnel adapted from Ma Fleur liner notes.

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Performers

• Izzi Dunn – strings
• Phil France – double bass
• Jote Oshan – strings
• Stella Page – strings
• Antonia Pagulatos – strings
• Patrick Watson – vocals, piano

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Technical personnel

• Phil France – assistant engineer, string arrangements
• Steve Hodge – mixer, recording engineer
• Andy Marcin-Kowski – assistant engineer
• Stella Page – string arrangements
• Dominic Smith – assistant engineer
• Jason Swinscoe – mixer, producer

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|artist=The Cinematic Orchestra|title=To Build a Home|award=Gold|relyear=2007|certyear=2016|access-date=26 November 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|artist=The Cinematic Orchestra|title=To Build a Home|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=2007|certyear=2025|access-date=5 February 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|artist=The Cinematic Orchestra & Patrick Watson|title=To Build a Home|award=Gold|relyear=2007|certyear=2023|id=12116|access-date=23 February 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|artist=The Cinematic Orchestra feat. Patrick Watson|title=To Build a Home|award=Platinum|relyear=2007|certyear=2021|id=9295|access-date=25 November 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Cinematic Orchestra|title=To Build a Home|award=Platinum|relyear=2007|certyear=2021|source=radioscope|access-date=18 December 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|artist=The Cinematic Orchestra|title=To Build a Home|award=Platinum|relyear=2007|certyear=2024|access-date=25 November 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Cinematic Orchestra|title=To Build a Home|award=Platinum|relyear=2007|certyear=2021|id=14131-4333-1|access-date=26 November 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=The Cinematic Orchestra|title=To Build a Home (ft. Patrick Watson)|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2007|certyear=2024|access-date=15 November 2024}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Discogs master|master=47652|name=To Build a Home|type=single}}

{{The Cinematic Orchestra}}

Category:2007 songs

Category:2007 singles

Category:The Cinematic Orchestra songs

Category:Ninja Tune singles